TEDxTowsonU ready to 'Engage' the campus community

Towson University is ready to share ideas worth spreading. What better way to share these ideas is by putting on its own version of TED, the conference known for sharing earth-changing ideas?

On Thursday, May 5, Towson University will host TEDxTowsonU at the West Village Ballrooms starting at 4 p.m.

At a TEDx event, live speakers and TEDTalks video combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but all events are individually self-organized.

The Office of Civic Engagement and Leadership helped organize this year’s TEDxTowsonU, an opportunity for Towson students, faculty, staff and local community members to share their ideas.

The theme for this year’s TEDxTowsonU is “Engage.” This could mean community service, getting involved on campus, or even starting your own business.

This year’s speakers present a healthy mix of Towson University faculty, students and local members of the community:

• James Overduin: associate professor in Towson University’s Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences.
• John LaPolla: professor in Towson University’s Department of Biological Sciences
• Dave Teie: Founder of Music for Cats organization
• Cheryl LaRoche: archaeologist and professor at the University of Maryland, College Park
• Erin Campbell: Towson University student studying speech-language pathology, deaf studies, Spanish and disability studies.
• John Gillespie: Towson University English and philosophy major and organizer of #OccupyTowson
• Bria Johnson: Towson University psychology and women’s and gender studies major and president of Womanist United
• Marc Olano: professor at UMBC’s Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

The event is free to attend, but there will be a limited number of seats available. Those interested in attending need to register.